Swimmers off to Europe

Many of our athletes and cyclists are already in Europe either chasing or building on their Olympic dreamsÔÇª on Tuesday its the turn of the swimmers to join them, writes Mark Etheridge.

Seven of our top swimmers jet off for the Mare Nostrum series ÔÇô of them just Leith Shankland has yet to qualify for the London Games later this year.

The rest have all fulfilled the qualification criteria laid down by Swimming South Africa. They are Cameron van der Burgh, Chad le Clos, Charl Crous, Kathryn Meaklim, Suzaan van Biljon and Karin Prinsloo.

Said team manager Anton Jordaan: “These swimmers will all take part in the Mare Nostrum meetings in Barcelona, Canet and Monaco. Some of our other swimmers are writing exams and will join the team later.

“After the Mare Nostrum, we’ll compete at Setti Coli in Rome where Wendy Trott and Heerden Herman will join us. Then we have a training camp in Pescara, Italy and then we head for Monaco before London. Graeme Moore joins us from the Pescara training camp.”

The team will be accompanied by Jordaan, Swimming SA head coach Graham Hill and fellow coach Igor Omeltchenko. The Olympic team leave for London from Monaco on 22 July.